Do you have to listen to people complaining all day?  They spend all day finding something wrong with everything. When they aren’t complaining and pointing out things they perceive as wrong they are gossiping about someone. We all know at least one person like this, maybe even ourselves? Be honest now, haven’t you done these things at least once?

I came across this verse from the Book of Wisdom, Chapter 1, verse 11:

So beware of uttering frivolous complaints, restrain your tongue from finding fault; even what is said in secret has repercussions, and a lying mouth deals death to the soul. – NJB

While this isn’t one of the seven deadly sins, I think it should be one of the top 25. Where I work I listen to this all day long. Some days I think about jumping into the river that runs next to my workplace just to make it go away. But then I guess that wouldn’t be the right thing to do either. I began to think about why people are like this, why they just can’t seem to be happy. Maybe they have this need to feel like they need to be heard? Maybe it makes them think they are more important than they really are? Or maybe…

As I tend to do, I asked God for an answer. Last night I randomly opened my bible and read the first passage I came to. I have talked about doing this at other times and the answer to a question seems to be right there. This happened last night as well. I opened up to Matthew, Chapter 7, verse 1 – 5:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. – RSVCE2

Jesus asks why we can see the speck in our brother’s eye but we can’t see the log in our own. In other words, we can see other people’s faults but we can’t see our own. Before we criticize others, we need to take a look at our own selves. We should correct our own faults before we start correcting others.

I look back to just a few short years ago when I was out of work, barely getting by and I thank God for what I have now. I think to myself “If you are so unhappy here then maybe it’s time you seek other employment. You keep saying you should, then why don’t you?” Life is to short to be miserable. I suppose some people like being miserable, but do they need to take the rest of us down with them?

Doesn’t Jesus also say something about letting those who have no sin cast the first stone? Before you speak of someone else, are you sure you have no sins of your own?

How about instead of spreading negativity we all spread a little joy? If you take a minute to put down the phone, turn off the TV, shut off the computer and look around, you will see it. It is there and it was put there by God for us to enjoy.